Improved life-preserver



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN PLATT, OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

IMPRovi-:D LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,066, dated February '7, 1860.

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I. NORMAN PLATT, of Jackson, in the county of Hinds and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Life-Preservers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon and made to form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention relates to a device for inflating a life-preserver, by means ot' which the preserver may be properly and almost instantly in iiated after being properly adjusted upon a person for use.

In reference tothe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a life-preserver before being inflated and being provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is an obliqueview of the life-preserver infiated as for use, and Fig. 3 is a sectional View showing the arrangement of the device for inating the preserver.

A represents the life-preserver, made in the form of a coat of waterproof material, the waist of which is formed double,so as to have an interior space for air.

B is a belt, which facilitates the securing of the preserver around the body.

O are bellows constructed, as is usual, with valves for the reception and discharge of air, and being secured to the body of the preserver and also to its sleeves in such manner as to be easily operated by the arms of a person using the preserver.

CZ is a tube communicating with the interior of the air-space of the preserverand also with the bellows, by means of which'air may be conducted from the bellows cl to the airspace of the preserverl Having described the construction of my invention, its adaptation to use may be set forth as follows: When it may be required to use the preserve-rfor sustaining persons upon the surface of the water, the preserver will be adjusted upon the body in the same manner as an ordinary coat, and then secured about the neck, front, and waist. The arms will then be moved in such manner as to operate the bellows C, by means of which air will be forced through the tubes d into the air-space of the body of the preserver through the medium of valves cfg, and may be secured therein by means of a suitable valve or stop.

The advantages secured by means of my invention are that the preserver may be folded within a small space, is light and portable, is readily adjusted for use, and may be almost instantly infiated with air sufficient to sustain a person upon the surface of the water by a natural and easy action of the arms, said -inflation being certain, inasmuch as nearly all motions of the arms must necessarily operate the bellows.

I do not wish to be understood as claiming the bellows C or the preserver A when taken separately, as I am aware that similardevices are in common use; but,

Having described my invention, what I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl The employment of bellows C or their equivalent in effect, secured to the body and sleeves of the preserver and having a tube communicating with the air-space of said preserver, and being so arranged as to be operated by the motion of the arms of the wearer in such manner as to inflate the preserver with air, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

NORMAN PLATT.

Witnesses:

H. E. CLIFTON, F. A. McDoWELL. 

